June 2013

Kinetic changes postmeniscectomy mimic those associated with knee OA

In the moment: Sports medicine

One to five years after partial medial meniscectomy, young adults demonstrate kinetic alterations associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA), according to research presented in late May at the annual ACSM meeting.

Investigators from Ohio University in Athens found that peak external knee adduction moment (KAM) was significantly higher in 14 college-aged individuals with a history of partial medial meniscectomy than in healthy controls. The difference remained significant even when the data were normalized to body mass, which is an independent predictor of knee OA.

The meniscectomy group also demonstrated significantly lower knee extension moments, greater hip abduction moments, and less hip abductor and external rotation strength than the controls. However, there were no significant kinematic between-group differences.

The findings are consistent with those of a University of Melbourne study epublished on May 7 that found that KAM significantly increased from three months to two years postsurgery in 82 patients with partial medial meniscectomy.